“Always but what I’m talking about is since the divorce seven years seven long years of nonstop torture that’s after he robbed me blind took everything my father left me my father was a film producer one of the top guys in Hollywood and that bastard knew where everything was kept he looted me looted me like something from the Watts riot we used to have a house cars Angelo Donghia furniture Sarouk rugs you name it we had a great life on the surface— ”

“How come Mr. Boestling’s so angry?”

“What do you think he’s a Jew,” said Weider. “Vengeful eye for an eye they don’t let go until you’re sucked dry.”

“What’s he want revenge for?”

“For my being superior for my being . . . it’s complicated he’ll never be happy he’s consumed. About what? About making me pay and pay and pay for those people it’s all about money he libels me tells everyone I’m crazy manic-depressive just because my energy’s superior to his he could never— ”

She stopped abruptly. “You. The psychologist. You can tell I’m fine.”

Her eyes were bright with madness.

I said, “Sure.”

Milo’s eyelids vibrated. The mark Weider had left on his cheek had started to fade.

She smiled again. “There you go you know about that kind of thing you tell this very kind police individual I’m an attorney a wife a mother did it all raised two beautiful boys you should see the deal Microsoft offered them both of them but they didn’t take it they have their own software to develop why should someone else get rich on their accomplishments?”

I said, “Despite all that Marty Boestling’s being vengeful.”

“Mindlessly vengeful he’s a nothing— ”

“Maybe,” Milo broke in, “finding you with Drew Daney wasn’t a real fun experience for him.”

Weider’s mouth hung open. She sank back down. “You are blaming me for his inadequacies do you think if he could . . . wait you talked to him are you really police are you from him a process ser— ”

“No!” Milo bellowed. “I’m an LAPD lieutenant who couldn’t give a rat’s ass about your marriage or your sex life. I am interested in talking about Drew Daney.”

Weider twitched, rolled her shoulder, looked out at the polo field. “What about him?”

“What kind of guy is he?”

“What kind of guy is he scum pond scum the black stuff under pond scum— ”

“You two have a lover’s quarrel?” said Milo.

“Ha. Hahahahaha. There was no lover no love no lovemaking this was straight you know what he was nothing to me none of them were.”

“Who?”